Plan for Swanage to take on list of areas in town stumble at first hurdle

Bid to acquire sites hits barriers

SWANAGE town council’s bid to take on a number of areas in the town after local government reorganisation next year may have stumbled at the first hurdle.

A list of items the council would like to run was discussed at Wednesday’s (April 18) Purbeck District Council policy group.

They include the Heritage Centre and adjoining toilets, King’s Court business centre, the Purbeck Business Centre and a small piece of land on long lease to the town’s sailing club.

Group chairman Cllr Gary Suttle said that anything which has an income, or potential income, would be wanted by the new unitary Dorset Council when it comes into being in April 2019.

He said that the King’s Court business centre was part of what he described as the “Swanage greater plan” where the land had already been earmarked for future development, including moving the bus and fire station and an expansion of the existing supermarket.

“We won’t dispose of it because it could stop the plan happening. Swanage Town Council has neither the resources of the means to make sure such a project happens…

“But the Heritage Centre and toilets is a potential income earner and we may be able to persuade Swanage Town Council to purchase it from us,” he said.

Council chief executive Steve Mackenzie said it was also very unlikely that the Purbeck Business Centre would be transferred because it is run as a joint venture with the Town Council, Purbeck District Council and the Dorset County Council.

Ipsoregulated

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